Regiments of the Malta Garrison The Royal Irish Rifles

The Royal Irish Rifles (83rd/86th)

Introduction

A Harp surmounted by a Crown, with a scroll below the harp inscribed Quis Separabit, (Who shall separate us). The Harp and Crown are from the Order of St Patrick, and the motto is that of the Order which was instituted by King George III in 1783.

The Royal Irish Rifles was formed on 1 July 1881, through the amalgamation of The 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot, with The 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot.

Both regiments were raised in 1793. The 83rd became The First Battalion of The Royal Irish Rifles. The 86th became The Second Battalion of The Royal Irish Rifles, although neither regiments had been rifle units.

It had 777 admissions (740/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 9 deaths (8.57/1000 mean strength). 30 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 63.72 (60.68/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 22.21 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 30.02 days.

The 2nd/Royal Irish Rifles was at Pembroke Camp with detachments at Fort St Angelo for 3 months. It was in Isola District for 6 months and at Fort Manoel and Hutments for 3 months with a detachment at Marsamxetto Barracks.

The following were buried at Rinella Military Cemetery in 1892:

23 AprJoseph Isaac aged 22 years, died in Cottonera.

12 MayJohn Stevenson aged 28 years, died in Cottonera.

16 MayAlice Simmonds aged 1 year 2 months, died in Cottonera.

19 JuneJames Hawkins aged 22 years, died in Cottonera.

5 July Cpl F J Cramp died in Cottonera.

18 Aug Pte S Magee aged 24 years, died in Cottonera.

28 AugFrederick Graham aged 6 months, son of Sgt Graham died in Cottonera.

The 2nd/Royal Irish Rifles had an average strength of 847 men. It had 409 admissions (482.9/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 3 deaths (3.54/1000 mean strength). 4 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 37.88 (32.91/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 12.01 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 24.88 days.

10 Mar 1894Thomas Bradley died in Cottonera and was buried in Rinella Military Cemetery.

23 May Bugler Ramsay 2nd/Royal Irish Rifles was granted a compassionate sum of £25 for having his leg amputated when a wall collapsed on him at the Lazaretto.

The 2nd/Royal Irish Rifles was at Fort Manoel and Hutments.

18 Nov 1894 The 2nd/Royal Irish Rifles embarked for Bombay on the transport Victoria where it arrived on 2 December 1894. It was relieved in Malta by the 2nd/Leinster Regiment which arrived from England. The 2nd/Royal Irish Rifles served in India until 25 January 1899, when it embarked for Belfast.